Does Offering Food in the Office Really Improve Morale?

Free lunch is a big perk

Successful business leaders are always looking for ways to boost morale and improve productivity in their employees. One method that has historically worked well is offering food and beverages at the office. Whether it’s team lunches, free snacks or an energizing coffee station, it’s not hard to see how these options can boost morale in the office.

But does offering employees food really boost morale enough to justify the additional business expense? For the most part, the data says yes. Here’s how feeding your team benefits the company as a whole—as well as ways to incorporate food perks into your company culture.

Benefits of employer-provided office food

1. It’s a simple way to show your appreciation

Whether your company employs a dozen people or a few hundred, your employees want to feel like leadership appreciates their hard work. While pizza parties alone aren’t a replacement for a supportive, growth-focused work environment, food- and drink-based celebrations can boost morale when you hit major milestones or make it through busier periods.

As business leader Tracy Lawrence explains, “In a society where everyone is used to having everything at their fingertips, I think food is an important part of that on-demand economy. It makes employees feel valued and special.” By rewarding your team with a nice meal or special treat, you’re letting them know their efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.

2. Shared meals help employees bond

According to Kevin Kniffin, Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior and Leadership at Cornell University, “From an evolutionary anthropology perspective, eating together has a long, primal tradition as a kind of social glue. That seems to continue in today’s workplaces.” In other words, shared meals boost relationships among teammates, ultimately improving performance.

Kniffin’s research backs up these claims. After studying employee behavior in a large city’s fire department, which included more than 50 individual firehouses, Kniffin found that platoons that ate together got higher marks for team performance. Keep this in mind if your team appears to be struggling to collaborate effectively.

3. Well-fed employees are productive employees

When you’re in the middle of a big project and a tight deadline looms, it’s easy to forget about breakfast and lunch until your energy plummets and your mood turns sour. On the other hand, those who take lunch breaks report being happier, less stressed and less burned out.

As a leader, employee wellness should be a priority—and there’s a direct line between food and wellness. When over two-thirds of employees are creating “makeshift meals” of whatever snacks they can find around the office, there’s an opportunity to make a real difference in their day.

4. Free lunch increases onsite attendance

The COVID-19 pandemic put remote work in the spotlight, but 90% of companies are planning to return to the office by the end of 2024. However, this isn’t always welcome news for those who have adapted to working from home and traded their commutes for an extra hour of rest.

If you’ve determined that in-office work is the best way for your business to meet its goals, you can win these employees over with free lunch. The data shows that all generations, and especially Gen Z, are more motivated to work onsite if they know they can look forward to a nice meal.

5. It’s more cost-effective than you think

It’s not hard to see why providing food boosts company culture and helps employees perform better, but when you’re running a small business, money matters. The upfront cost of stocking up on snacks and meals might give you pause, but consider this: it’s far less expensive to retain employees than to hire new ones.

On top of the direct financial impact, frequent employee turnover decreases productivity across the board and lowers morale, which can indirectly affect profitability. So ask yourself this: would you rather make room in the budget for food or spend tens of thousands of dollars recruiting and training new team members?

How to make office food part of the company culture

Of course, providing food for your employees doesn’t mean you need to deliver five-star cuisine for three meals a day. There are a number of simple ways to incorporate free food into your office culture, among them:

• Encourage lunches away from desks: It’s easy to get wrapped up in work and forget your own well-being. You can gently nudge your team toward more communal meals by providing those meals in a dedicated break space.

• Keep a range of snacks stocked: When employees get the munchies, make sure they have healthier options on hand. Fruits and veggies, Greek yogurt and protein bars are just a few options.

• Celebrate the big wins with a special treat: When you hit a significant milestone, it’s a great time to show your appreciation toward the employees who helped the company get there. Consider occasional take-out or catered meals to mark these successes.

• Small treats make a big difference: Monday mornings are few people’s favorite time of the week. Offering bagels or pastries starts the work week off on a good note.

• Be respectful of dietary and cultural differences: Make sure you’re not excluding anyone in your meal-based activities. Poll your workers about their favorite foods, as well as those they can’t or won’t eat, and ensure there are options for everyone.

Stock your break room with Walmart Business

If you’re looking for budget-friendly ways to fuel your team, Walmart Business can help. From savory snacks and refreshing beverages to sweet treats and beyond, you can stock up on break room staples while saving time and money.

If you already shop at Walmart Business, you can further increase those savings with a Walmart Business+ membership. With free shipping¹ and free delivery from local stores for orders over $35, you can replenish your supplies with just a few clicks.² You’ll also enjoy 2% back in Walmart Business Rewards on orders of $250 and up.³ That could amount to savings of over $500 a year!⁴ Learn more here.

¹ Excludes most Marketplace items, freight and certain location surcharges.

² Restrictions apply. 

³ Rewards can only be used toward future purchases on Walmart Business. Additional terms apply.

⁴ Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).